Deep Purple rocker Jon Lord is undergoing specialist treatment for pancreatic cancer in Israel and hopes to be back at work with the band later this year (12).
The 70-year-old keyboard player confirmed his health crisis last year (11) and his bandmate, drummer Ian Paice, has now revealed the British star has gone abroad to seek out a new treatment, which appears to be working well.
Paice is also convinced his friend will be back with the band in the next few months.
He tells Canadian radio station Cirk K-97 97.3 Fm, "(Lord) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but really early, early stages. And we know it's not a good one - whether there is a good one - but so far all the news from Jon is great.
"There are no more cancer cells being produced, and those that are lying dormant are being, hopefully, wiped out as we speak by a brand new treatment which he is over in Israel having right now. So we're already thinking that he may be back working in April or May."